The roads and highways of the Chittagong region were almost empty on the second day of the 48-hour strike called by like-minded parties and alliances including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for a one-point demand for the fall of the government. Due to continuous blockade, the commercial capital of Chittagong, the commercial capital of the country, is in a bad condition. Due to the disruption of traffic on the highway, the movement of cargo-carrying vehicles towards Chittagong Port came to a standstill. The stack of imported goods is increasing in Chittagong port and private depots. Again, there is a deadlock in the shipping of export-oriented products. Transport fares have gone up due to insecurity due to the blockade. It is having a negative impact on the consumer goods market. One of the country’s wholesale markets, Chaktai, Khatunganj’s transactions have decreased. No long-distance bus left the metropolis yesterday.
Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of BNP and their organs and allied organizations were in the field yesterday to make the blockade successful. They held processions and rallies in different areas of the city. Jamaat workers also held a jhatka procession in the city. Police operations continue despite the blockade. Police arrested 10 more activists of BNP yesterday. A bus standing at the city’s Oxygen intersection was set on fire early in the morning. Another bus was set on fire in Anwara in the morning. A bus was set on fire in Patenga on Sunday night. A CNG autorickshaw was set on fire and several others were vandalized in the city’s Atura depot area yesterday. During the siege, a protest march was taken out under the leadership of Yachin Chowdhury Liton and Abdul Mannan, joint convenors of the Metropolitan BNP in Askar Dighi Par area of the city.
The president of Mahanagar Swachhasevak Dal HM Rashed Khan and member secretary Belayet Hossain Bulu led the procession and picketing at East Gate and Pravartak Mor area of Chittagong Medical College. Apart from this, BNP leaders and activists of North Kattali Ward No. 10 marched and held a rally in the City Gate area. A procession and picketing was held in Pahartali Bazar area under the leadership of Mahanagar Youth Dal vice-president Fazlul Haque Suman. Besides, BNP, Juba Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists picketed and marched in various areas of the city including Panchlaish, Bibirhat, Kalamia Bazar, Rahattar Pool, Chandgaon, South Agrabad, Agrabad Access Road. In support of the blockade, Jhatika marches were held in Bandar, Patenga, Halishahar, Pahartali, Chandgaon, Baklia and Chawkbazar areas of the city on the initiative of Jamaat. #
